Georgia Ranks as the Fifth Highest Spike in Motor Vehicle Deaths

By
Goldstein & Hayes, P.C.
|March 03, 2017

Motor vehicle accidents across the nation have drastically increased over
the past few years. With the lure of rapidly evolving technology, smartphones
proved to be a contributory cause, taking the attention of drivers away
from the road and onto their text messages or apps. In Georgia alone,
motor vehicle deaths increased by a third from 2014 to 2016, the fifth
highest increase in the country and twice the national average, according
to the National Safety Council.

While the ubiquitous use of smartphones is not an age old culprit for deaths
on the road, it is only one type of distracted driving. Ultimately, the
same few bad behaviors are still responsible for claiming the lives of
drivers – speed, alcohol, and distracted driving.

Why does Georgia rank so high? According to the Department of Transportation,
statistics show that fatalities involving vehicles that ran off the road
increased, which is a sign that drivers are not paying attention. In fact,
at least 3,000 people die every year in distracted driving accidents,
many of which likely involve smartphones. In 2010, Georgia prohibited
texting for drivers of all ages and banned drivers under the age of 18
from using a wireless device while driving – a sign that the state
recognized this widespread issue. However, this does not seem to be enough.

President of the National Safety Council, Deborah Hersman, said that she
proposed a number of measures to mitigate this problem, including the
banning of all cell phone usage while driving, more red light cameras,
and equipping vehicles with greater safety measures.

At Goldstein & Hayes, P.C., our Atlanta personal injury attorneys have
been assisting automobile accident victims who have suffered severe or
life-altering injuries for years and can do the same for you and your
family as well. Let our award-winning law firm guide you through this
process to ensure that you obtain the compensation you deserve.

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